Mail box



H. s. GILMAN Dec. 2 1, 1937.

MAIL BOX Filed Feb. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. BY W (5;: (72m @(Q ATTORN Y.

1 35 shown in Fig. 1.

Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v Henry S. $1 221 sigmoid, Mass. v

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mail boxes'and is directed more particularly to the provision of a novel mail box construction adapted to efiiciently receive relatively heavy and 5 bulky articles such as magazines, newspapers,

and the like.

It is now common to associate with the forward face of present-day mail boxes some kind of a clip for retaining such articles,\but I have found that such an arrangement is undesirable since the clips are necessarily small and inherently weak. They easily break and, being oh the front of the box, they detract from the, appearance of the construction and interfere with the proper access to the box.

It is one of the principal obects of this invention to provide a structure which is simple in form so-as to be economical to manufacture and which is at the same time sturdy and rigid. It is another object of the invention to provide a mailbox having yielding means for retaining bulky articles at the rear of the-box so as. to be out of the way and not .be unsightly- Further;- more, the retaining means is strongsothat relatively heavy articles may be supported without fear of injury to the box. I f

Various other objects and advantages of' the invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following description and reference being had to the accompanying drawing,

I wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the mail-box construction of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the mail box Referring now to the drawing. more in detail the invention will be fully described.

There is shown in Fig. 1 a support S which may be a wall or a post or the like. In any event it is adapted to have a mail box secured thereto as by screws '4 extending through the rear'wall 2 of the box and into a support, all as shown.

The box itself generally includes: in addition to a rear wall 2 a bottom wall 6 and upstanding side Walls 8 and a front wallflll co-operating to form a receptacle. If desired there may be a door such as l2 in the forward, face thereof and it also is usual toprovide a slot or opening such as M through which the letters may be inserted. Although the shape and form of the box may be varied in many ways, the box of this invention is of such construction that it co-operates with the support to provide a socket 24. That is, there is provided at the rear side of the box intermediate the upper and lower edge thereof a ledge 20 with a rear wall part 22 extending upwardly from the inner edge thereof. A top wall "such as 28 extends forwardly from the upper edge of part 22.

In this way, the space 24 between the support S and part 22 is adapted to receive, and the ledge 5 also may vary in form. It preferably consists of one or more spring-like members having foot 15 parts 25 secured, as by rivets 26, to the ledge 20 as shown. Then body parts 30 extend upwardly from parts. 25 to curved free end parts 32 which extend adjacent the wallor post S as shown.

- The spring member is arranged so that its free end part is yieldingly urged toward the support S. In this way, entrance to socket 24 is normally barred by a member which may be readily moved to permit entrance. That is, a magazine or the like may be moved downwardly between the spring part 32 and support S into the socket so that it rests on the ledge.

Although I have shown a pair of spring members, one or more may, of course, be used. Also,

while I have described the spring member as having a foot part 25, it is desired to point out that this part is not indispensable and the lowerpart of body 30 could be attached to wall 22, if desired.

If desired, there may be a cross bar such as 40 extending between the yielding members and it 35 will have its opposite end partssecured to the yielding members, as by welding, rivets, or some other means. 'This facilitates pulling the springs away from the support S and also assures that, where two or more clips are used, both clips are 40 pulled at thesame time so as to open up the socket 24.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since 45,

many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and and a. yielding spring member having one end- 55 secured to said receptacle adjacent said ledge ing means associated with said receptacle in such part and its other end extending freely away a way as to be within said socket, said retaining therefrom.

means consisting of a spring member having a 2. The combination with a support of a receplower foot part secured to said horizontal wall and tacle secured thereto, said receptacle being formed its other end extending freely away therefrom to- 5 to have an upper part spaced iromisaid support wards said support. I I so as to form a socket having an open upper side HENRY S. GILMAN. and a lower horizontal wall, and yielding retain- 

